Circuit controller



' Sept. 8, 1942. w. E. SMITH 2,295,301

CIRCUIT CONTROLLER Filed Jan. 29, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jnmlalz'on RRQRRRRR 15515 Las D4 121 Fig. Z5.

INVENTOR HIS ATTORNEY P 3, 1942- w. E. SMITH 2,295,301

CIRCUIT CONTROLLER Filed Jan. 29, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 5mi. N .4 m.

IINVENTOR. LUuZlLam mulz.

HIS ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 8, 1942 CIRCUIT CONTROLLER William E. Smith, Pitt The Union Switch & vale, Pa., a corporatio sburgh, Pa., assignor to Signal Company, Swissn of Pennsylvania Application January 29, 1937, Serial No. 123,014

(Cl. 177-3l1) 12 Claims.

My invention relates to circuit controllers, and particularly to circuit controllers adapted for assembly on a control panel as one of a compact group of similar units for controlling railway switches and signals or other apparatus.

One object of my invention is to provide a circuit controller of the type described having associated therewith indication means for indicating the condition of the device or devices controlled by the circuit controller.

Another object of my invention is to provide a circuit controller of the type described, which will not only have a compact, accessible, and reliable type of construction, but which at the same time may be constructed at a minimum cost.

Circuit controllers embodying my invention are particularly suitable for, although in no way limited to, use in connection with railway trafiic controlling apparatus of the type disclosed and claimed in an application for Letters Patent of the United States, Serial No. 118,609, filed by John M. Pelikan, on December 31, 1936.

I will describe several forms of circuit controllers embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a top plan view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing one form of circuit controller embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the circuit controller shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the construction of one of the stacks of contacts forming part of the circuit controller shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is an end view of the circuit controller shown in Figs. 1 and 2 as it appears when viewed from the right in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a top View, partly in section and partly in elevation, showing another form of circuit controller embodying my invention. Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the circuit controller shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a top view, partly in section and partly in elevation, showing a third form of circuit controller embodying my invention. Fig. 8 is a side view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of the circuit controller shown in Fig. '7. Figs. 9 and 10 are sectional views taken on the lines IX-IX and X-X, respectively, of Fig. 7. Fig. 11 is an end View of the circuit controller shown in Figs. '7

and 8 as it appears when viewed from the right in Fig. 7. 12 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, showing a fourth form of circuit controller embodying my invention. Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12 showing a modification of the circuit controller illustrated in Fig. 12.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the circuit controller in the form here shown comprises a suitable framework consisting of a front support I secured, by means of flat-headed screws 2, to the forward end of a base plate 3, and a rear support 4 secured, by means of flat-headed machine screws 5, to a taillike extension 3 of the base plate 3, the heads of the screws 2 and 5 being made flush with the under side of the base plate for a purpose which will become apparent as the description proceeds. The front support I is formed with a reamed hole l surrounded at its forward end by a boss l and the rear support 4 is formed with a screw-threaded hole 4* which aligns axially with the hole in the front support I.

The hole I in the front support I slidably receives a tubular operating member 6, the inner end of which is screwed into a split collar l forming part of a rectangular housing 1 which comprises part of a light unit U. The collar I is provided with two laterally projecting lugs which may be drawn together by means of a screw 8 to lock the operating member in place in the collar. The operating member normally occupies the position shown, but is adapted to be at times pushedinwardly to one extreme position, and at other times pulled outwardly to another extreme position, to efiect the operation of the contacts of the circuit controller, as will be described more fully hereinafter, and to facilitate grasping the operating member 6, the outer end of the operating member is formed with an integral button 6 Extending through the operating member 6 from one end thereof to the other is a clear glass rod 6 which is adapted to be at times illuminated by light rays from one or the other of a pair of indication lamps 9 and I0. that are disposed within the housing I of the light unit U, to give to the operator of the circuit controller an indication of the position or condition of the signal or other device which is controlled by the circuit controller. In order that the indications given may be clearly and readily distinguishable from each other, the two lamps may be provided with differently colored bulbs to cause differently colored light rays to be transmitted from the lamps to the rod, or the inside of the housing 1 may be divided into two compartments by means of a partition wall ll and two differently colored filters I 2 and I3 in such manner that a different one of the filters will be disposed between each bulb and the rod, this latter construction being shown in Fig. 1. It will be obvious, of course, that when differently colored filters are provided, lamps having uncolored bulbs may be used. In actual practice, the two indications will usually be red and green to correspond with standard signaling practice, although this particular arrangement is in no way essential to my invention.

The indication lamps 9 and H] are mounted in lamp sockets l4 and I5 which sockets, in turn, are mounted in suitable openings provided in a metal plate It secured to an insulating lamp supporting bracket I! having formed therein openings which align with the openings in the plate IS. The bracket I1 is U-shaped, and the legs thereof are secured to the opposite sides of the housing 1 by means of fiat-headed machine screws IS. The rear end of the housing I is open, and the parts are so proportioned that sufficient room is provided between the housing and the yoke of the lamp supporting bracket I! to allow for adequate ventilation. The lamp sockets may be of any suitable type, but are preferably of the J -slot or bayonet type which can be locked in place by pushing them inwardly in the associated opening in the plate I6 and bracket 11, and then rotating the socket to another angular position. Sockets of this type are in widespread commercial use, and a detailed description of these socket is therefore believed to be unnecessary. Electrical connection with the one terminal of each lamp is mad through the shell of the associated socket M or l5, the metal plate [6, and a wire I!) which is soldered to the plate [6. Electrical connection with the other terminal of the lamp 9 is made through the usual spring. biased member M of the associated socket l4 and a wire 29 which is electrically connected to this member; and electrical connection with the other terminal of the lamp It is made through the usual spring biased member I5 of the associated socket l5 and a wire 2| which is electrically connected to the member l5? The circuit controller also comprises a metal plate 22, one end of which is secured to the under side of the housing 1 of the light unit U by means of machine screw 23 having fiat heads which are flush with the under side of the metal plate 22, and the other end of which is secured to a spring basket 24 forming part of a device D for biasing the operating member 6, the housing l, and the metal plate 22 to the position shown in such manner that these parts may be moved in opposite directions through the medium of the operating member 6.

The biasing device D may hav any preferred construction, but in the form here shown this device comprises, in addition to th spring basket 24, two sleeves 25 and 25, a spring bolt 21', and a compressed coil spring 28. The spring basket 24 comprises a rigid metal strip bent to form a yoke portion 24 to which the plate 2?. is riveted, and two inverted L-shaped portions the vertical legs 24 and 24 of which are disposed at right angles to the yoke portion 24*, and the horizontal legs 24 and 24 Of which extend parallel to the yoke portion in offset spaced plane relation thereto. The legs 24 and 24 are provided with holes 24 and 24 which align axiall with the hole I- in the front support I of the frame, and the hole 4 in the rear support 4; while the legs 24 and 24 are provided with holes 24 and 24 The sleeves 25 and 2'6 are slidably mounted in the holes 24 and 24 respectively, and are provided at their confronting ends with annular flanges '25 and 25 respectively. The spring bolt 21 is provided adjacent its head with an enlarged shank portion 21 which is screwed into the hole 4 in the support 4, and the main part of the shank of this belt extends with some clearance through the two sleeves 25 and 25, and is provided at its free end with a stop nut 29 and a jam nut 39. The compressed coil spring it surrounds the spring bolt 2'! between the two sleeves 25 and from the position shown i 26, the parts being so proportioned that the spring will hold the sleeves in the position in.

which their flanges engag the associated legs 24 and 24, and that when these flanges are engaging the legs 24 and 24, the outer end Of the one sleeve will engage the front vertical face of rear support 4, and the outer end of the other sleeve will engage the stop nut 2%. A look washer 3| is interposed between th head of the spring bolt and the rear support 4 to lock the spring bolt in place in the support.

With the biasing device D constructed in the manner shown, it will be apparent that upon pushing the operating member 6 inwardly a force will be transmitted to the spring 28 through the housing I, the plate 22, the spring basket 24, and the sleeve 25, which force will compress the spring 28 beyond its initial compression, and that, as a result as soon as the operating member is released the spring will act to immediately return the parts to the positions shown. Like-- wise, upon pulling the operating member, 6 outwardly, a force will then. be transmitted to the spring 28 through the housing 1, the plate 22, the spring basket 24, and the sleeve 26, which force will also compress the spring beyond its initial compression, with the result that as soon as the operating member is released, the spring will again act to immediately return the parts to the positions shown. It will also b apparent that the extreme position to which the parts can be moved in one direction is limited by engagement of the leg 24 of the spring basket 24 with the rear support 4, whereas the extreme position to which the parts can be moved in the other direction is limited by engagement of the split sleeve '1 with the rear face of the front support I of the frame.

Secured to the legs 24 and 24 of the spring basket 24 by means of screws which are screwed into the holes 24 and 24 is a channelshaped wire guide 35 of insulating material, which guide supports the wires l9, 2% and 2| leading to the light unit U. The wires are held in place within the guide by a strip 31 of insulating material, which strip extends transversely of the guide adjacent to its right-hand end directly above the wires, and which is secured to the guide by a bolt 38. The guide extends rearwardly past the rear support 4, and serves to prevent the wires from becoming worn due to repeated operation of the circuit controller.

The circuit controller further comprises a plurality of groups or stacks of contacts, here shown as two in number and designated by the reference characters S and S respectively. These stacks are secured to insulating strips 40 and 4| which extend rearwardly from the base plate 3 of the frame on opposite sides of the rear support 4, and are similar in construction so that a description of one will suffice for both. Referring particularly to the stack S shown in detail in Fig. 3, this stack comprises a plurality of superposed blocks 42 42*, etc., of insulating material attached to the strip 49 by means of screws 43. A first movable contact finger 44 is clamped between the two blocks 42 and 42 and the outer end of this finger is provided with a downwardly projecting return bend 44*, the function of which will be made clear presently. A fixed contact finger 46 is clamped between the blocks 42 and 42, and is retained in its normal position by a relatively stiff metal stop 41 which is also clamped between the same two blocks. A second movable contact finger 48 is clamped between the blocks 42 and 42 and the free end of this finger is bent downwardly at right angles at 48. A small plate 49 of insulating material is attached to the bent end 48 and is adapted to engage with the free end of the movable finger 44. A

second fixed contact finger 50 is clamped between the blocks 42 and 42*, together with a metal stop which is arranged to limit the downward movement of the finger 50. The fingers are so adjusted that when no upward thrust is exerted on the movable fingers 44 and 48, the parts will occupy the positions shown, in which positions the movable fingers are out of engagement with the associated fixed fingers 46 and 50. The screws 43 are insulated from the various fingers and strips by means of insulating bushings 52 which surround the screws.

The return bends 44 on the contact fingers 44 of the two stacks S and S of contacts cooperate with an insulating cam 55 which is secured to the movable plate 22. This cam is formed with a high portion 55 and with two low portions 55 and 55 so arranged that the return bend 44 on the finger 44 of the stack S will ride on the low portion 55 except when the operating member is pushed inwardly to its righthand or inner extreme position, at which time the return bend will ride up onto the high portion, and that, the return bend 44 on the finger 44 of the stack S will ride up onto the high portion 55 except when the operating member 8 is pulled outwardly to its left-hand or outer extreme position, at which this return beand will move off of the high portion onto the low portion 55. The parts are so proportioned that when the return bend 44 on the finger 44 of either stack is.engaging the high portion 55 of the cam, the finger 44 of such stack will be forced upwardly to the position in which it engages the associated fixed contact finger 46 to close the contact 4446, and the finger 48 of such stack will be forced upwardly by engagement of the member 49 with the associated finger 44 to the position in which the finger 48 engages the associated fixed contact finger 58 to close a contact 48-58, but that, when the return bend 44 on the finger 44 of either stack is engaging the associated low portion 55 or 55 of the cam, the fingers 44 and 48 of such stack will be permitted to move downwardly due to their inherent bias to the position in which the contacts 44-46 and 4858 of such stack are opened.

The circuit controller is intended to be secured to a control panel such as the control panel 56 shown in the drawings in such manner that it can readily be removed for inspection or repair, and to this end an L-shaped mounting bracket 51 is provided. This bracket is secured to the rear face of the control panel by means of rivets which pass through the panel and through the vertical leg 51 of the bracket, and formed in the vertical leg in the bracket is a hole 51 which aligns with a hole 56 in the panel, the two holes 51 and 56 being of sufiicient diameter to receive the button 6 of the operating member 6 and the boss l of the front support I with some clearance. The circuit controller is mounted on top of the horizontal leg of the bracket 51 with the bushing l and operating member 6 projecting through the holes 51 and 56 and is secured to the bracket by means of a machine screw 58 and the dowel effect provided by the bushing l on the support I. The machine screw 58 passes through a hole 4 in the rear support 4, and is screwed into a tapped hole 51 provided in the tail-like extension 51 of the horizontal leg of bracket 51, and it will be apparent that in order to remove the circuit controller from the panel, it is only necessary to remove the machine screw 58, and then slide the control panel rearwardly to the point in which the operating member 6 is clear of the holes 51 and 56 The operation, as a whole, of the circuit controller is as follows: When the operating member 6 is released, all parts occupy the positions in which they are shown in the drawings, and under these conditions the contacts 44-46 and 4850 of the stack S are open and the corresponding contacts of the stack S are closed. When, however, the operating member 6 is pulled outwardly, the light unit, plate 22, and cam 55 all move toward the left in opposition to the bias of the biasing device D, and under these conditions, the contacts 4446 and 4850 of stack S become opened and the corresponding contacts of stack S remain open. Upon releasing the operating member, the biasing device D will automatically restore the operating member, the light unit U, plate 22, and cam 55 to the position shown and the contacts of stack S will return to their normally closed positions. If the operating member is pushed inwardly, the light unit, plate 22, and cam 55 will all move toward the right in opposition to the bias of the biasing device D, and the contacts 4446 and 48-50 of stack S will remain closed, and the corresponding contacts of stack S will become closed. Upon releasing the operating member, the parts will again immediately return to the position shown. When the device controlled by the circuit controller has responded to the operation of the circuit controller, one or the other of the indication lamps will become lighted, thus causing the outer end of the operating member to become illuminated, and hence giving the operator an indication of the fact that the device controlled by the circuit controller has responded. The means for controlling the indication lamps form no part of my present invention and are therefore not shown in the drawings.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, member 5, the light unit U, and the mounting bracket 51 of the circuit controller here shown are all similar in construction with the correspondingly designated parts of the circuit controller shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The operating member 6 of the circuit controller, however, is slidably mounted in a bushing 52 which is riveted to the vertical leg 65 of an L-shaped plate 60, and which bushing projects through the hole 51 in the vertical leg 5'! of the bracket 51 and the aligned hole 56 in the control panel 56. The horizontal leg 68' of the plate 68 rests on the horizontal leg 51 of the bracket 51, and is secured thereto by means of a pair of screws 6| the plate 60 being positioned at its forward end by the dowel eiiect produced by the bushing 62.

The operating member 5 and light unit U are biased to the position shown by abiasing device D the rectangularly shaped housing 64 of which is operatively connected with the housing 1 of the light unit U through the medium of a plate 22 secured to both housings. The biasing device D differs somewhat from the device D shown in Fig. 1, and comprises a spring bolt 65 which is mounted at one end in a block 65 secured to the leg 68 of the plate 58 by means of screws 61. The other end of the spring bolt projects through aligned openings 64 and 64* formed in the opposite end walls of the housing 64. A lock nut 68 the operating is provided on the spring bolt 65 adjacent the block 66, and slidably mounted on this spring bolt adjacent this nut is a bushing 69 which projects into the housing through the opening 64 and is provided on the inside of the housing with an annular flange 69 The spring bolt is also provided with a washer l which is slidably mounted on the bolt within the housing 64, and with a compressed coil spring i2 which surround the spring bolt between the washer and the flange 6% of the bushing 69, and which spring urges the washer Hi to the position in which it engages the associated end wall of the housing, and the bushing 69 to the position in which the flange 69 engages the associated end wall of the housing. Upon pushing the operating member 5 inwardly from the position shown, the spring 12 is compressed through engagement of the end wall of the housing with the washer i8, and upon removing the force from the operating member, the operating member and housing will be restored to the position shown by the spring, this position being determined by engagement of Washer '18 with the head of the spring bolt 65 and by engagement of the bushing 69 with the lock nut E58. Upon pulling the operating member outwardly from the position shown, the spring :2 is again compressed through engagement of the flange 53 with the end wall of the housing,

so that as soon as the operating member is released, the parts will immediately return to the positions shown.

The contacts of the circuit controller are mounted on top of the block 66, and are operated by a cam 14 secured to the top of the housf ing 64 of the biasing device. Only two contacts are provided, and each of these contacts comprises a movable finger 44 and a fixed finger 43 clamped between superposed insulating blocks 42 42 and 42 in a manner similar to that shown in Fig. 1. The cam M is similar to the cam previously described in connection with Fig. 1, and comprises a high portion M and two low portions M and M The parts are so proportioned that when the operating member occupies the position shown, the return bend M on the one movable contact finger 44 will engage the cam 14 at the high portion and the return bend M on the other finger 44 will engage the cam at the low portion N and under these conditions the one contact 44-46 will be closed and the other contact will be open. When, however, the operating member is pushed inwardly to its one extreme position, the return bend Ml on the one finger will remain on the high portion 54 of the cam and the return bend on the other finger will ride up onto the high portion, thus causing the one contact to remain closed and the other contact to become closed. Conversely, when the operating member is pulled outwardly to its other extreme position, the return bend M on the one contact finger will ride off of the high portion M and onto the low portion 14 of the cam 14, and the return bend 44* on the other finger 44 will remain on the associated low portion, thus causing the one contact to become opened and the other contact to remain open. It will be obvious, of course, that when the operating member is released following its movement to either extreme position, it will immediately be returned to the position shown due to the bias of the biasing device D and the contacts of the circuit controller will immediately be restored to their normal positions in which the one contact is closed and the other contact is open. The inner position to which the operating member 6 can be pushed is limited by engagement of the inner end of the plate 22 with the block 66, and the extreme position to which the operating member can be pulled is limited by engagement of the sleeve 1 with the vertical leg 69* of the plate 60.

It will be noted that with the circuit controller constructed in the manner shown in Figs. 5 and 6, it can be removed from the panel by removing the screws 6| and then sliding the circuit controller rearwardly away from the panel to the position in which the operating member 6 is clear of the opening 51* in the vertical leg of the bracket 51.

Referring now to Figs. '7 and 8, in the form of circuit controller here shown a mounting plate having an opening 83* therethrough that is somewhat larger than, but aligns with, an opening 58 in the control panel 55, is secured to the control panel 56 as by rivets 8!. The rivets 8| have heads which are made flush with the front surface of the panel in order to render the front surface of the panel smooth, and with the rear surface of the plate in order to enable the plate to receive in flat surface relation thereto a front support 82* comprising part of a frame 82. The front support is clamped against the plate 80 by means of bolts 84, and is formed with a stepped tubular portion 82 which accurately fits the opening in the plate 80 and the opening 56 in the control panel 55. Extending through the tubular portion 82 is a reamed hole 82 which slidably receives a tubular operating member 85, the outer end of which is provided with a bull's eye 86. The bulls eye is adapted to be at times illuminated by indication lamps 81 and 88 disposed within a housing 89 which is secured to the rear end of the operating member and which forms part of a light unit U The lamps 81 and 88 are isposed in sockets l4 and i5 mounted in a plate It secured to an insulating lamp supporting plate 90, which latter plate, in turn, is secured to the rear end of the housing 89 by means of screws 9| in the manner shown in Figs. '7 and 10. Connections to the lamp sockets l4 and I5 are made in the same manner as in Figs. 1 and 2.

The frame 82 includes, in addition to the front support 82 an arm 82 which extends normal to the front support at the top thereof, and an integral housing 82 which houses a biasing device D The biasing device D in the form here shown comprises a spring rod 92 provided adjacent one end with an enlarged portion 9% and at the other end with a head 93 which is pinned to the spring rod. The enlarged portion 92 is slidably supported in a bearing S2 formed in one end of the housing 82 while the head 33 is slidably supported in a bearing sleeve 94 which is screwed into the other end of the housing 82. Surrounding the spring rod within the housing are two washers 95 and 93 which are free to slide relative to both the spring rod and the housing, and a compressed coil spring 9? which biases the washer 95 to the position in which it engages a shoulder 82 formed at the inner end of the bearing 82 and the washer 93 to the position in which it engages the inner end of the bearing sleeve 94. The parts are so proportioned that when the washer 95 is engaging the shoulder 82 and the washer 93 is engaging the bearing sleeve, the washer 95 will also engage a shoulder 92 formed on the spring rod 92 at the inner end of the enlarged portion 92*, and the washer 96 will engage the inner end of the head 93. It will be seen, therefore, that movement of the spring rod away from the position shown in either direction will compress the spring 9'! beyond its initial compression, and that, as a result, as soon as the force which moved the spring rod is removed, the spring will act to immediately restore the spring rod to the position shown.

The spring rod 92 is secured at its forward end to an L-shaped extension 89 of the housing 89 of the light unit U and acts both as a means for slidably supporting the light unit and also as a means for operatively connecting the light unit and the operating member with the biasing device.

A circular flange 98 is formed on the rear end of the spring housing 82 and secured to this flange by means 'of screws 99 (see Fig. 11) is a terminal board I88 of suitable insulating material. This terminal board carries four terminal posts I8I, I02, I83, and I04 disposed at the four corners of a rectangle, which terminal posts, in

turn, carry contact fingers I05, I08, I01, and I88, respectively. The two contact fingers I85 and I98 are shorter than the two contact fingers I81 and I88, and cooperate with a contact ring I 89 mounted on an insulating rod I ID, to form a contact I85i89|88. The rod H is secured to the head 93 of the biasing device, and also carries a contact button III which cooperates with the fingers I81 and I 88 to form a contact I 81- I I Ii 88. The parts are so proportioned that the 0 contact I85-I89-I08 will be closed when the operating member 85 and associated parts occupy the positions shown, their right-hand extreme position, or any position intermediate these two positions, but will become opened when the operating member and associated parts are moved to their left-hand extreme position; and that the contact I8'I -IIII88 will become closed when and only when the operating member and associated parts are moved to their right-hand extreme positions. The right-hand extreme position of the operating member and associated parts is limited by engagement of the extension 89 of the light unit housing 89 with the lefthand end of the spring housing 82 and the other extreme position of the operating member and associated parts is limited by engagement of the left-hand end of the light unit housing with the front plate 82.

The operation of the circuit controller shown in Figs. 7 and 8, as a whole will be apparent from the foregoing description and from an inspection of the drawings without further detailed description.

Referring now to Fig. 12, the circuit controller here shown comprises, in general, an operating rod I28 mounted in a supporting bracket I2I, and cooperating with contacts carried by the supporting bracket. The supporting bracket I2l may have any suitable form, but, in the form here shown, this bracket comprises a single strip of steel or other suitable material bent to form two spaced vertical portions I2 I and I2 I and an intermediate connecting portion I2I. The vertical portion I 2i is provided with a screw-threaded hole I2I through which the right-hand end of the opening rod I 28 extends with considerable clearance, and the vertical portion I2I is provided with a threaded hole I2I through which the left-hand end of the operating rod extends with considerable clearance. A bushing I23 is screwed into the hole IZI and this bushing serves both as a bearing for the operating rod, and as a means for fastening the circuit controller to the control panel 56. The bracket I2I is maintained 75 in the desired position with respect to the panel 58 by means of a dowel pin I22 which is riveted to the panel, and which projects into a clearance hole provided in the vertical portion I2I of the bracket IZI. Th left-hand end of the operating rod is provided with a screw-threaded portion i2!) of reduced diameter which receives an operating button I24. The inner end of the operating button I24 is recessed for the reception of a lock washer I25 which serves to lock the button in place on the operating rod.

The operating rod is operatively connected with a biasing device D which in the form here shown comprises a tubular housing I26, the righthand end of which is screwed through the opening IZI in the bracket I2I and is locked in place by means of an end cap I21 provided with an opening Itl The left-hand end of the housing P26 is partly closed by an inwardly extending flange E28 which forms an opening I26 that aligns with the opening I 21 in the end cap I21, and slidably mounted in the openings I 26 and m are sleeves I28 and I29, respectively, provided with annular flanges I28 and I29 located within the housing. Th operating rod extends through the sleeves I28 and I29 with some clearance and is surrounded by a compression spring I38 which engages the sleeves at their annular flanges and urges them to the positions in which the annular flange I28 on the sleeve I28 engages the flange I26 on the housing I26, and the annular flange I28 on the sleeve I29 engages a shoulder formed on the inside of the end cap I21. The operating rod is provided at its extreme right-hand end with a nut ISI for at times engaging the outer end of the sleeve I29, and with a jam nut I32 for locking the nut I 3I in place. The outer end of the sleeve I28 cooperates with an insulating cam I 33 which is pinned to the operating rod for operating the contacts of the circuit controller. The operation of the biasing device D will be apparent from an inspection of the drawings, and from the foregoing description of the operation of the other biasing devices shown in the preceding views, and need not, therefore, be described in detail herein.

The contacts of the circuit controller are arranged in a stack and are secured to a horizontal extension I2 I of the bracket I2I by means of screws I43. The extension carries a plurality of superposed blocks I3 I34, etc., of insulating material, and clamped between the blocks I 34* and I 35' is a first movable contact finger I35, the outer or free end of which is provided with a return bend I35 which cooperates with the cam I33. A fixed contact finger I86 is clamped between the blocks I3 and I 34", and is retained in its normal position by a relatively stifl metal stop I3! which is also clamped between the blocks I3 3 and I34. A similar fixed contact finger I38 and a stop I38 which is arranged to limit the upward movement of the finger I38 is also clamped between the blocks I3 3 and HM. A second movable contact finger I48 is clamped between the blocks I344 and IN and the free end of this finger is bent downwardly and is provided with a return bend Nit which also cooperates with a cam I33. The movable finger I35 cooperates with the fixed finger I38 to form a contact I35I38, and the movable finger I 40 cooperates with thev fixed contact finger I38 to form a contact I38- icll. The fingers are so adjusted that when no force is being exerted on the movable fingers, the finger I35 will move due to its inherent bias to the position in which the contact I35I36 is open, and the finger I43 will move due to its inherent bias to the position in which the contact I38I49 is closed.

The cam I33 is provided with oppositely inclined cam faces I33 and I33, and the parts are so proportioned that when the operating rod I25! occupies the position to which it is biased by the biasing device D the cam I33 will be out of engagement with both movable contact fingers, but that, when the operating rod is moved inwardly to its one extreme position, the cam face I33 will engage the return bend I35 of the finger I35 and thus force the finger I35 upwardly to the position in which the contact i35- I35 becomes closed, and that, when the operating rod is pulled outwardly to its other extreme positic-n, the inclined face I33 of the cam will engage the return bend l lil on the finger I49 and force it upwardly to the position in which the contact I33-I4il is open. Ihe inner which the operating rod can be moved is limited by engagement of the cam I33 with the righthand end of the housing I25, and the other extreme position to which the operating rod can be pulled is limited I33 with the inner end of the bushing I23.

Referring now to Fig. 13, the circuit controller here shown is a modification of that shown in Fig. 12, and diifers from that shown in Fig. 12 in that the vertical portions I2! and I2! of the bracket I2I are spaced somewhat farther apart and the biasing device which is here designated D instead of being mounted in a tubular housing secured to the leg I2i of the bracket IZI is mounted in a U-shaped support I44 secured to the connecting portion I2I of the bracket. Furthermore, the contacts of the circuit controller instead of being mounted on a horizontal extension of the bracket are mounted on an L-shaped insulating support H35 which is secured to the vertical leg of the bracket by means of screws I46. The. operation of the circuit controller shown in Fig. 13 will be obvious from an inspection of the drawings.

Although I have herein shown and described only a few forms of circuit controllers embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus claim is:

l. A circuit controller comprising a frame prodescribed my invention, what I vided at its forward end with an opening, a tui.

bular operating member slidably mounted in said opening, a light transmitting medium extending through said operating member, a housing secured to said operating member and containing indication lamps for at times illuminating said light transmitting medium, a plate secured to said housing, contacts secured to said frame, and cam means secured to said plate and cooperating with said contacts to selectively operate said contacts in accordance with the position of said operating member.

2 A detachable panel mounted circuit controller comprising, in combination, an L-shaped bracket having one leg thereof secured to the rear face of a control panel and provided with a hole which aligns with a hole in said panel, and a circuit controller supported by the other leg of said bracket and secured thereto at the rear end of the bracket, said circuit controller being provided at its forward end with a projecting extreme position to by engagement of the cam portion through which an operating member extends and which projects through the aligned holes in said bracket and said panel and acts as a dowel to position the forward end of said controller relative to said bracket and said panel.

3. An electric switch, comprising: switching elements, movable relatively to various positions; means for bodily moving at least one of said switching elements relative to the other in any one of the various positions; actuator means, having connection with said moving means, for effecting movement of said moving means, comprising an interior core of light transmitting material and an exterior surface opaque to light, said exterior surface being interrupted at spaced portions to expose said, interior core; an electric lamp construction, so constructed and arranged that the electric lamp will be energized when said switching elements are in at least one predetermined position, the electric lamp being disposed adjacent one of said spaced portions, so that the light rays will be transmitted through the interior core to the other of said spaced portions.

4. A plural-position electric switch, comprising: actuator means, having connection with the switching elements of said electric switch for bodily moving atleast one of the elements relative to the other in any one of the various positions, said actuator means being formed of glass, and the exterior surface of which is provided with an opaque covering, said covering being interrupt d at spaced portions; and an electric lamp construction, so constructed and arranged that the electric lamp will be enerized when sa swi ch sv in at le s n predetermin d position. the el ct ic lamp nst u tion being disposed adjacent one of said spaced p rti ns. an the l umina ion being transm from said one por on t r u h he l s of d actuator means to the other of said spaced portions.

,.v An electric switch, comprising: switching elements, movable relatively to various positions; means, for bodily moving at least one of said switching elements relative to the other in any of the variouspositions; tubular actuator means, having connection with said moving means, for effecting movement of said moving means; an electric lamp disposed exteriorly of and alongside said switch and so constructed and arranged that the electric lamp. will be energized when said switching elements are in at least one predetermined position, said electric lamp construction bein disposed adjacent one end of said tubular actuator means; and a glass core disposed within said tubular actuator means, constructed and arranged to transmit light from the electric lamp through the actuator means to the other end of said, actuator means.

6. In combination: a mounting, having an aperture; an electric switch secured to said mounting at one side of said mounting; movable means, having connection with the switching element of said electric switch; an. electric lamp construction, carried by said movable means and connected to a source of electrical energy; tubular actuator means, extending through said mounting aperture, and having connection with said movable means, for effecting movement of said movable means and said lampconstruction, said actuator means having one open end disposed adjacent said electric lamp construction, on said one side of said mounting, and its other open end disposed on the opposite side of said mounting; and means constructed and arranged to cause energization of the electric lamp when said electric switch is moved to a predetermined position, at least a portion of the light provided by the energized electric lamp entering said one open end of said actuator means and being directed to said other open end.

7. In combination: a mounting, having an aperture; an electric switch secured to said mounting at one side of said mounting; movable means, having connection with the switching element of said electric switch; an electric lamp construction, carried by said movable means and connected to a source of electrical energy; tubular actuator means, extending through said mounting aperture, and having connection with said movable means, for effecting movement of said movable means and said lamp construction, said actuator means having one open end disposed adjacent said electric lamp construction, on said one side of said mounting, and its other open end disposed on the opposite side of said mounting; means constructed and arranged to cause energization of the electric lamp when said electric switch is moved to a predetermined position; and means directing the light provided by the energized electric lamp, so that this light enters said one open end of said actuator means and is visible at said other open end, thereby visibly indicating at said opposite side of said mounting when said switch has been moved to said predetermined position.

8. In combination: a mounting, having an aperture; an electric switch secured to said mounting at one side of said mounting; movable means, having connection with the switching element of said electric switch; an electric lamp construction, positioned adjacent said switch, and being connected to a source of electrical energy; hood means, generally enclosing the electric lamp; tubular actuator means, extendin through said mounting aperture, and having connection with said movable means, for efiecting movement of said movable means and said lamp construction, said actuator means having one open end communicating with the interior of said hood means, and its other open end disposed on the opposite side of said mounting; and means constructed and arranged to energize the electric lamp when said electric switch is moved to a predetermined position, said hood means directing the light provided by the energized electric lamp to enter said one open end of said actuator means, so that this light is visible at said other open end, thereby visibly indicating at said opposite side of said mounting when said switch has been moved to said predetermined position.

9. In combination: a mounting, having an aperture; an electric switch secured to said mounting at one side of said mounting; movable means, disposed on said one side of said mounting, and having connection with the switching element of said electric switch; an electric lamp construction, connected to a source of electrical energy; hood means, generally enclosing the electric lamp, said electric lamp construction and said hood means being secured to and movable with said movable means; tubular actuator means, extending through said mounting aperture, and having connection with said movable means, for effecting movement of said movable means, said actuator means having one open end extending into said hood means, and its other open end disposed on the opposite Side of said mounting; and means constructed and arranged to energize the electric lamp when said electric switch is moved to a predetermined position, said one open end of said actuator means providing for the escape of light from said hood means, so that the light is directed toward said other open end, thereby visibly indicating at said opposite side of said mounting when said switch has been moved to said predetermined position.

10. In combination: a mounting, having an aperture; an electric switch secured to said mounting at one side of said mounting; movable means, disposed on said one side of said mounting, and having connection with the switching element of said electric switch; an electric lamp construction, connected to a source of electrical energy; hood means, generally enclosing the electric lamp, said electric lamp construction and said hood means being carried by said movable means; tubular actuator means, extending through said mounting aperture, and having a readily detachable connection with said movable means, for effecting movement of said movable means, said actuator means having one open end extending into said hood means, and its other open end disposed on the opposite side of said mounting; and means constructed and arranged to energize the electric lamp when said electric switch is moved to a predetermined position, the light from the electric lamp being confined Within said hood means, and escapes only through said one open end of said actuator means and to "said other open end, so as to visibly indicate at the opposite side of said mounting when said switch has been moved to said predetermined position.

11. In combination; a mounting member having a relatively small cylindrical passageway extending thenethrough; a relatively small tubular sleeve extending through said cylindrical passageway and movable therein, a hollow knob secured to said sleeve at one end, a lens in the knob; a bracket secured to said mounting member, a lamp socket fastened to said bracket at the other end of said sleeve, a plurality of diiferently colored lamps in the socket; and a transparent rod extending through said sleeve for transmitting the light from said lamps to said lens.

12. In combination, a fixed mounting member extending from front to rear and having a relatively small cylindrical opening therein, a relatively slender tubular member movably fitted through said cylindrical opening, a knob mounted on said tubular member at one end, a transparent rod extending from said knob through said tubular member, an enlarged receiver at the other end of the tubular member, a plurality of electric lamps mounted in the receiver, energizing circuits for the lamps, and each positioned, when energized, to illuminate the rear end of said transparent rod, whereby the light from any lamp is transmitted to illuminate said knob and a plurality of lamps can be employed to illuminate said knob without increasing the size of the contact carrying structure for receiving the lamps and the lead in wires therefor.

WILLIAM E. SMITH. 

